Recovering from depression requires a multifaceted approach. Many people begin by talking to their family doctor and often are prescribed medications for depression. This is a very good start, but this one piece is not enough to complete the puzzle of a full recovery from depression.

Consider the metaphor of a wheel on a bicycle: it has many spokes. All the spokes must be present for the wheel to function properly.

It’s the same with healing from depression.

There are many spokes. In other words, a complete healing from depression requires that many aspects are in place. It’s only when these are addressed that recovery can be achieved.

Here are some of those aspects in no order:

1. Medication

Your family practitioner or internist can prescribe medications for depression; however, a psychiatrist is the recommended specialist for these types of drugs. A thorough evaluation by a psychiatrist will ensure you are on the correct medication. You may not even need medication, but it’s always a good idea to be evaluated to rule it out.

2. Counseling

Research has shown the benefits of counseling for dealing with depression. Usually medication alone will not do the trick. There is no substitute for a one-on-one therapeutic relationship with a qualified, licensed therapist. Find a therapist that you feel comfortable with and trust.

3. Medical Evaluation

A thorough medical evaluation with blood tests to rule out other causes is needed. There are some medical conditions—such as thyroid issues and anemia—that can mimic depression. See your family doctor or an internist to rule out these and any others.

4. Nutrition

A healthy & balanced diet of unprocessed foods is a good start. You need to have the proper amounts of carbohydrate, protein, and healthy fats. Speak with a registered dietitian, nutritionist, or naturopathic doctor. Supplements, herbals, and vitamins/minerals—such as Vitamin D, B Vitamins, and fish oil—may be needed.

5. Social Support & Relationships

Healthy, supportive relationships go a long way in recovering from depression. It may seem difficult to reach out to friends and family during this time, but it’s crucial. Find a support group or inquire with a faith community about resources that are available for you to build friendships.

6. Life Purpose

Having a purpose in life is necessary to feel positive and good about yourself and your future. Additionally, it can instill hope for the future. If you struggle in this area, a counselor or life coach can be a valuable resource. Try volunteer work as a start. It’s difficult to feel down about yourself when you are serving those in need.

If you think you might be depressed or are having trouble addressing all the aspects above, I can help. As a licensed professional counselor with specific training and experience in working will all types of depression, I am available to get you on the healing path.

Have you ever experienced a traumatic or extremely disappointing event in your life? Maybe you lost a loved one or special friend unexpectantly; or a significant relationship ended and you were devastated. Often times, we seek to understand the purpose of these painful events. We may have many unanswered questions about the hurtful event. As we experience the grief and begin to heal, we think surely there is a greater purpose for this and it will be revealed to us soon. We keep searching, seeking, and analyzing it. We reason with ourselves that we will finally be over it and completely healed once we understand it fully. We believe that we will eventually receive new information about why it had to happen or what caused it. But, what if this never comes about? Resentment may set in. We may remain stuck in the grieving process, not able to fully resolve the feelings within us, because we cannot comprehend ‘why’. We may be unable to move forward in some aspect of our lives as a result.

The truth is we don’t always need to know the deeper meaning of everything that happens in our lives in order to get resolution. It’s true that our life experiences, whether positive or negative are our teachers. As we journey through our lives, we learn lessons, grow, and mature as a result of our experiences. As we try to discern what we are learning, sometimes it is very clear. Having clarity can be comforting, even when the lessons are difficult and cause us great pain, because we see how they ultimately benefit us. Other times, we have to search for longer and go deeper to gain understanding. There also comes a point in which it is time to simply let go, realizing we may never get the answers we seek. Letting go and moving forward can be difficult, but necessary in the healing process. It is possible that we are never meant to know the deeper meaning of certain life occurrences.

The thought of completely letting go without having the satisfaction of true understanding can be quite overwhelming. A trained counselor can help you get past your stuck places, process and heal. In fact, some traumatic events require the assistance of a counselor in order to gain complete healing and resolution. Some things you can do on your own to begin the letting go process are:

Write a letter that you don’t mail to the significant person associated with your traumatic event

Make a final entry in your journal on the subject, thanking it for being part of your experience